2019_WBSC_Premier12
2019 WBSC Premier12
International baseball tournament
The 2019 WBSC Premier12 was an international baseball championship featuring the 12 highest-ranked national teams in the world, held by the World Baseball Softball Confederation (WBSC). It was the second WBSC Premier12 event. The championship was held from November 2 to 17, 2019, in Mexico, South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.[1]
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Countries | Japan Mexico South Korea Taiwan |
| Dates | November 2–17 |
| Teams | 12 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Japan (1st title) |
| Runner-up |  South Korea |
| Third place |  Mexico |
| Fourth place |  United States |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Games played | 32 |
| Attendance | 357,525 (11,173 per game) |
| MVP | Seiya Suzuki |
2024 → | |
The tournament served as a qualifier for baseball at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Two quota spots were allocated, with Team Mexico as the top finisher from the Americas earning one spot, and Team South Korea as the top-finishing team from the Asia/Oceania region (excluding Team Japan, which already qualified as host) earning the other.[2][3]
Japan defeated South Korea in the championship game, and the bronze medal game was won by Mexico over Team USA.
| Top 12 Rankings as of December 17, 2018[4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Team | Points | Confederation |
| 1 | Japan | 5796 | BFA |
| 2 | United States | 5565 | COPABE |
| 3 | South Korea | 4987 | BFA |
| 4 |  Chinese Taipei | 3569 | BFA |
| 5 |  Cuba | 3516 | COPABE |
| 6 | Mexico | 3393 | COPABE |
| 7 |  Australia | 2440 | BCO |
| 8 |  Netherlands | 2421 | CEB |
| 9 |  Venezuela | 2348 | COPABE |
| 10 |  Canada | 2186 | COPABE |
| 11 |  Puerto Rico | 2105 | COPABE |
| 12 |  Dominican Republic | 1920 | COPABE |
The 12 highest-ranked national teams qualified to participate in the 2019 WBSC Premier 12, based on the then-most-recent WBSC World Rankings, which were as of December 17, 2018.[5]
Opening Round
The tournament began with three groups of four teams each playing in the 12-team Opening Round. Each team played three games, in a round robin format against the other three teams in its group.[6]
Super Round
The top two teams from each group then advanced to the six-team Super Round, which was hosted at ZOZO Marine Stadium and the Tokyo Dome in Japan.
In the Super Round, the top two teams that advanced from each of the three groups competed in a round robin format against the top two teams that advanced from the other two groups, for a total of four games played per team.[6]
Finals
Following the conclusion of the Super Round, four teams advanced to the Finals. The four teams were selected based on a combination of the results of the Opening Round game contested between the two teams in the same group that qualified for the Super Round (1 game), plus the teams' results in the Super Round (4 games).
The 3rd- and 4th-place teams competed in a Bronze Medal Game, while the 1st- and 2nd-place teams faced each other in the Championship Final at the Tokyo Dome.[7]
Six stadiums were used during the tournament:
| Group A | Group B | Group B |
|---|---|---|
| Zapopan, Mexico |
 Taichung, Taiwan |
Taoyuan, Taiwan |
| Estadio de Béisbol Charros de Jalisco | Taichung Intercontinental Baseball Stadium | Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium |
| Capacity: 16,000 | Capacity: 20,000 | Capacity: 20,000 |
| Group C | Super Round | Super Round and Finals |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul, South Korea |
Chiba, Japan |
Tokyo, Japan |
| Gocheok Sky Dome | ZOZO Marine Stadium | Tokyo Dome |
| Capacity: 16,813 | Capacity: 30,000 | Capacity: 46,000 |
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mexico (H) |
3 | 3 | 0 | 24 | 5 | +19 | 1.000 | — | Advance to Super Round |
| 2 | United States |
3 | 2 | 1 | 21 | 16 | +5 | .667 | 1 | |
| 3 | Dominican Republic |
3 | 1 | 2 | 23 | 20 | +3 | .333 | 2 | |
| 4 | Netherlands |
3 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 33 | −27 | .000 | 3 |
| Date | Local time | Road team | Score | Home team | Inn. | Venue | Game duration | Attendance | Boxscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 2 | 12:00 | Netherlands |
0 – 9 | United States |
Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 2:17 | 3,015 | ||
| November 2 | 19:00 | Dominican Republic |
1 – 6 | Mexico |
6 | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 2:00 | 8,000 | |
| November 3 | 12:00 | Dominican Republic |
14 – 40 | Netherlands |
7 | Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 2:59 | 5,132 | |
| November 3 | 19:00 | Mexico |
8 – 2 | United States |
Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 3:03 | 10,123 | ||
| November 4 | 19:00 | United States |
10 – 80 | Dominican Republic |
Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 3:20 | 3,102 | ||
| November 5 | 19:00 | Netherlands |
02 – 10 | Mexico |
Estadio Charros de Jalisco | 3:17 | 6,895 |
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan |
3 | 3 | 0 | 20 | 5 | +15 | 1.000 | — | Advance to Super Round |
| 2 | Chinese Taipei (H) |
3 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 9 | +1 | .667 | 1 | |
| 3 | Venezuela |
3 | 1 | 2 | 11 | 12 | −1 | .333 | 2 | |
| 4 | Puerto Rico |
3 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 17 | −15 | .000 | 3 |
| Date | Local time | Road team | Score | Home team | Inn. | Venue | Game duration | Attendance | Boxscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 5 | 18:00 | Venezuela |
4 – 8 | Japan |
Taoyuan International Stadium | 3:39 | 3,868 | ||
| November 5 | 18:30 | Puerto Rico |
1 – 6 | Chinese Taipei |
Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 2:58 | 11,852 | ||
| November 6 | 18:00 | Puerto Rico |
0 – 4 | Japan |
Taoyuan International Stadium | 2:35 | 4,209 | ||
| November 6 | 18:30 | Chinese Taipei |
3 – 0 | Venezuela |
Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 3:56 | 10,983 | ||
| November 7 | 12:00 | Venezuela |
7 – 1 | Puerto Rico |
Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 2:48 | 618 | ||
| November 7 | 18:30 | Japan |
8 – 1 | Chinese Taipei |
Taichung Intercontinental Stadium | 3:37 | 20,465 |
Group C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Korea (H) |
3 | 3 | 0 | 15 | 1 | +14 | 1.000 | — | Advance to Super Round |
| 2 | Australia |
3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 9 | −4 | .333[lower-alpha 1] | 2 | |
| 3 | Canada |
3 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 6 | −1 | .333[lower-alpha 1] | 2 | |
| 4 | Cuba |
3 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 12 | −9 | .333[lower-alpha 1] | 2 |
| Date | Local time | Road team | Score | Home team | Inn. | Venue | Game duration | Attendance | Boxscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 6 | 12:00 | Canada |
3 – 0 | Cuba |
Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:16 | 250 | ||
| November 6 | 19:00 | Australia |
0 – 5 | South Korea |
Gocheok Sky Dome | 2:50 | 5,899 | ||
| November 7 | 12:00 | Australia |
2 – 3 | Cuba |
10 | Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:15 | 252 | |
| November 7 | 19:00 | South Korea |
3 – 1 | Canada |
Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:15 | 6,000 | ||
| November 8 | 12:00 | Canada |
1 – 3 | Australia |
Gocheok Sky Dome | 2:50 | 200 | ||
| November 8 | 19:00 | Cuba |
0 – 7 | South Korea |
Gocheok Sky Dome | 3:05 | 13,600 |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | L | RF | RA | RD | PCT | GB | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Japan (H) |
5 | 4 | 1 | 27 | 16 | +11 | .800 | — | Advance to gold medal game |
| 2 | South Korea |
5 | 3 | 2 | 25 | 21 | +4 | .600[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | |
| 3 | Mexico |
5 | 3 | 2 | 17 | 12 | +5 | .600[lower-alpha 1] | 1 | Advance to bronze medal game |
| 4 | United States |
5 | 2 | 3 | 11 | 20 | −9 | .400[lower-alpha 2] | 2 | |
| 5 | Chinese Taipei |
5 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 14 | +1 | .400[lower-alpha 2] | 2 | |
| 6 | Australia |
5 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 17 | −12 | .200 | 3 |
| Date | Local time | Road team | Score | Home team | Inn. | Venue | Game duration | Attendance | Boxscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 11 | 12:00 | Chinese Taipei |
0 – 2 | Mexico |
Zozo Marine Stadium | 2:49 | 2,803 | ||
| November 11 | 19:00 | Australia |
2 – 3 | Japan |
Zozo Marine Stadium | 2:39 | 17,819 | ||
| November 11 | 19:00 | United States |
1 – 5 | South Korea |
Tokyo Dome | 3:21 | 3,012 | ||
| November 12 | 12:00 | Australia |
0 – 3 | Mexico |
Tokyo Dome | 2:36 | 2,089 | ||
| November 12 | 19:00 | Chinese Taipei |
7 – 0 | South Korea |
Zozo Marine Stadium | 3:32 | 4,056 | ||
| November 12 | 19:00 | United States |
4 – 3 | Japan |
Tokyo Dome | 3:27 | 27,827 | ||
| November 13 | 12:00 | Australia |
2 – 1 | United States |
Tokyo Dome | 2:45 | 2,149 | ||
| November 13 | 19:00 | Mexico |
1 – 3 | Japan |
Tokyo Dome | 3:01 | 31,776 | ||
| November 15 | 12:00 | Chinese Taipei |
2 – 3 | United States |
Tokyo Dome | 2:37 | 4,967 | ||
| November 15 | 19:00 | Mexico |
3 – 7 | South Korea |
Tokyo Dome | 3:34 | 5,121 | ||
| November 16 | 12:00 | Australia |
1 – 5 | Chinese Taipei |
Tokyo Dome | 2:57 | 7,299 | ||
| November 16 | 19:00 | South Korea |
08 – 10 | Japan |
Tokyo Dome | 3:40 | 44,224 |
Bronze medal game
| Date | Local time | Road team | Score | Home team | Inn. | Venue | Game duration | Attendance | Boxscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 17 | 12:00 | United States |
2 – 3 | Mexico |
10 | Tokyo Dome | 3:15 | 44,960 |
Championship final
| Date | Local time | Road team | Score | Home team | Inn. | Venue | Game duration | Attendance | Boxscore |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 17 | 19:00 | South Korea |
3 – 5 | Japan |
Tokyo Dome | 3:00 | 44,960 |
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Following the conclusion of the tournament, the WBSC announced the Premier12 All-World Team. WBSC also announced the individual awards winners.[8]
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The WBSC gave $5.2 million in prize money to participants, distributed as follows, with a minimum of half of a team's prize money to be distributed equally among its players:[9][10]
- Winner: US$1,500,000 (Japan)
- 2nd Place: US$750,000 (South Korea)
- 3rd Place: US$500,000 (Mexico)
- 4th Place: US$350,000 (United States)
- 5th Place: US$300,000 (Chinese Taipei)
- 6th Place: US$250,000 (Australia)
- 7–12th Place: US$180,000 each
- Each win in Opening Round: US$10,000
- Each win in Super Round: US$20,000
- 1st Place in Opening Round: US$20,000
The super-round game between South Korea and the United States played on November 11, which South Korea won 5–1, became a topic of debate due to an alleged misjudgment by an umpire, Tetsuya Shibata, against South Korea in the third inning. Baserunner Kim Ha-seong slid back to home plate before catcher Eric Kratz in the eyes of some was able to tag him out, but Tetsuya ruled it as an out instead. Team Korea's coach, Kim Kyung-moon immediately requested a VAR check, but was refused.[11] Slowed-down television footage was available online, and some criticized the call claiming it was wrong and that South Korea lost a run due to the call. The Korea Baseball Organization held a meeting after the match with the tournament's technical directors and filed an appeal,[12] additionally stating that Kratz physically obstructed Kim's path to home plate in violation of WBSC playing regulations. WBSC responded by saying that they respected Team Korea's perspective and would seek to make improvements in the future.[13]
- "Groups, locations revealed for WBSC Premier12 2019 major international baseball event". WBSC.org. February 13, 2019. Archived from the original on October 20, 2019. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- "Two teams from WBSC Premier12 2019 to qualify for 2020 Tokyo Olympic Baseball". WBSC.org. December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- "(Premier12) S. Korea beats Mexico to qualify for 2020 Olympic baseball tournament | Yonhap News Agency". Yonhap News Agency. November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
- "World Rankings WBSC". World Baseball Softball Confederation. Archived from the original on November 30, 2015. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- "World's Top 12 nations qualified for WBSC Premier12 2019 major international baseball event". WBSC.org. December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- "WBSC Premier12 Tournament Regulations" (PDF). WBSC.org. July 15, 2019. Retrieved July 23, 2019.
- "WBSC Premier12 2019 to be played 2–17 November with Finals at Tokyo Dome". WBSC.org. December 19, 2018. Retrieved February 13, 2019.
- "WBSC announces Premier12 MVP, All World Team". WBSC. November 18, 2019. Retrieved November 18, 2019.
- "Over $5 million in prize money to be awarded for 2019 WBSC Premier12, 40% increase from first edition in 2015". WBSC.org. August 26, 2019. Retrieved August 30, 2019.
- "[프리미어12] '홈 막히고, 태그도 없는데' 日 심판 오심에 날아간 한국 득점". MSN. 엑스포츠뉴스. Retrieved November 11, 2019.
- "[프리미어12] 심판 배정 공정성 논란에 WBSC "내부 논의 통해 개선할 것"". MSN. 엑스포츠뉴스. Retrieved November 12, 2019.
- "[프리미어12] '태그 오심 논란' WBSC "한국 의견 존중, 개선하겠다"". The Chosun Ilbo. Sun Soo-min. Retrieved November 12, 2019.